Assessment of substrate specificity of hepatitis G virus NS3 protease by a genetic method

The RNA genome of hepatitis G virus (HGV) encodes a large polyprotein that is processed to mature proteins by viral-encoded proteases. The HGV NS3 protease is responsible for the cleavage of the HGV polyprotein at four different locations. No conserved sequence motif has been identified for the cleavage sites of the NS3 protease. To determine the substrate specificity of the NS3 protease, amino acid sequences cleaved by the NS3 protease were obtained from randomized sequence libraries by using a screening method referred to as GASP (Genetic Assay for Site-specific Proteolysis). Based on statistical analyses of the obtained cleavable sequences, a consensus substrate sequence was deduced: Gln-Glu-Thr-Leu-Val downward arrow Ser, with the scissile bond located between Val and Ser. The relevance of this peptide as a cleavable substrate was further supported by molecular modeling of the NS3 protease. Our result would provide an insight on the molecular activity of the NS3 protease and may be useful for the design of substrate-based inhibitors.     

Structure of the major peanut allergen Ara h 1 may protect IgE-binding epitopes from degradation

In the past decade, there has been an increase in allergic reactions to peanut proteins, sometimes resulting in fatal anaphylaxis. The development of improved methods for diagnosis and treatment of peanut allergies requires a better understanding of the structure of the allergens. Ara h 1, a major peanut allergen belonging to the vicilin family of seed storage proteins, is recognized by serum IgE from >90% of peanut-allergic patients. In this communication, Ara h 1 was shown to form a highly stable homotrimer. Hydrophobic interactions were determined to be the main molecular force holding monomers together. A molecular model of the Ara h 1 trimer was constructed to view the stabilizing hydrophobic residues in the three dimensional structure. Hydrophobic amino acids that contribute to trimer formation are at the distal ends of the three dimensional structure where monomer-monomer contacts occur. Coincidentally, the majority of the IgE-binding epitopes are also located in this region, suggesting that they may be protected from digestion by the monomer-monomer contacts. On incubation of Ara h 1 with digestive enzymes, various protease-resistant fragments containing IgE-binding sites were identified. The highly stable nature of the Ara h 1 trimer, the presence of digestion resistant fragments, and the strategic location of the IgE-binding epitopes indicate that the quaternary structure of a protein may play a significant role in overall allergenicity.     

Anticarcinogenic effect and modification of cytochrome P450 2E1 by dietary garlic powder in diethylnitrosamine-initiated rat hepatocarcinogenesis

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of dietary garlic powder on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)- induced hepatocarcinogenesis and cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in weaning male Sprague-Dawley rats by using the medium-term bioassay system of Ito et al. The rats were fed diets that contained 0, 0.5, 2.0 or 5.0% garlic powder for 8 weeks, beginning the diets with the intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of DEN. The areas of placental glutathione S-transferase (GST-P) positive foci, an effective marker for DEN-initiated lesions, were significantly decreased in the rats that were fed garlic powder diets; the numbers were significantly decreased only in the 2.0 and 5.0% garlic-powder diets. The p-Nitrophenol hydroxylase (PNPH) activities and protein levels of CYP 2E1 in the hepatic microsomes of the rats that were fed the 2.0 and 5.0% garlic powder diet were much lower than those of the basal-diet groups. Pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (PROD) activity and CYP 2B1 protein level were not influenced by the garlic-powder diets and carcinogen treatment. Therefore, the suppression of CYP 2E1 by garlic in the diet might influence the formation of preneoplastic foci during hepatocarcinogenesis in rats that are initiated with DEN.     

Costimulatory Effect of Fas in Mouse T Lymphocytes

To induce proper immune responses, T lymphocytes require two types of stimuli, antigen-specific and costimulatory signals. Among costimulatory molecules, CD28-engagement promotes the survival and proliferation of both naive and memory T cells. In addition, it is now believed that Fas may play a role in T cell activation in the human system. It is, however, controversial whether Fas can act as a costimulatory signal in the murine system. Thus, we investigated fundamental differences in the capacity to induce proliferation of T cells between Fas and CD28 in mice. Fas-mediated T cell proliferation was observed only with a full mitogenic dose of anti-CD3 antibodies, whereas CD28 engagement was able to enhance T cell proliferation in the presence of a suboptimal level of anti-CD3 antibody. Furthermore, Fas-engaged T cells showed faster response in the upregulation of CD25 and CD69 expression than CD28-engaged ones. Here, we report that Fas might play a role in mature T cell activation in the mouse system through a different mechanism from that in CD28 costimulation.     

Type D retrovirus Gag polyprotein interacts with the cytosolic chaperonin TRiC

The carboxy terminus-encoding portion of the gag gene of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV), the prototype immunosuppressive primate type D retrovirus, encodes a 36-amino-acid, proline-rich protein domain that, in the mature virion, becomes the p4 capsid protein. The p4 domain has no known role in M-PMV replication. We found that two mutants with premature termination codons that remove half or all of the p4 domain produced lower levels of stable Gag protein and of self-assembled capsids. Interestingly, yeast two-hybrid screening revealed that p4 specifically interacted with TCP-1gamma, a subunit of the chaperonin TRiC (TCP-1 ring complex). TRiC is a cytosolic chaperonin that is known to be involved in both folding and subunit assembly of a variety of cellular proteins. TCP-1gamma also associated with high specificity with the M-PMV pp24/16-p12 domain and human immunodeficiency virus p6. Moreover, in cells, Gag polyprotein associated with the TRiC chaperonin complex and this association depended on ATP hydrolysis. In the p4 truncation mutants, the Gag-TRiC association was significantly reduced. These results strongly suggest that cytosolic chaperonin TRiC is involved in Gag folding and/or capsid assembly. We propose that TRiC associates transiently with nascent M-PMV Gag molecules to assist in their folding. Consequently, properly folded Gag molecules carry out the intermolecular interactions involved in self-assembly of the immature capsid.     

Stable sol-gel microstructured and microfluidic networks for protein patterning

We demonstrate the formation of micropatterned sol-gel structures containing active proteins by patterning with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannels. To transport sol solution efficiently into the hydrophobic PDMS microchannels, a hydrophilic-hydrophobic block copolymer was used to impart hydrophilicity to the PDMS microchannels. Poor adhesion of the micropatterned gel structure onto glass slides was improved by treating the glass surface with a polymeric substrate. To minimize cracks in the gel microstructure, hybrid matrices of interpenetrating organic and inorganic networks were prepared containing the reactive organic moieties polyvinylalcohol or polyvinylpyrrolidone. Retention of biochemical activity within the micropatterned gel was demonstrated by performing immunobinding assays with immobilized immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody. The potential application of microfluidics technology to immobilized-enzyme biocatalysis was demonstrated using PDMS-patterned microchannels filled with trypsin-containing sol-gels. This work provides a foundation for the microfabrication of functional protein chips using sol-gel processes.     

Addition of Cryoprotectant Significantly Alters the Epididymal Sperm Proteome

Although cryopreservation has been developed and optimized over the past decades, it causes various stresses, including cold shock, osmotic stress, and ice crystal formation, thereby reducing fertility. During cryopreservation, addition of cryoprotective agent (CPA) is crucial for protecting spermatozoa from freezing damage. However, the intrinsic toxicity and osmotic stress induced by CPA cause damage to spermatozoa. To identify the effects of CPA addition during cryopreservation, we assessed the motility (%), motion kinematics, capacitation status, and viability of epididymal spermatozoa using computer-assisted sperm analysis and Hoechst 33258/chlortetracycline fluorescence staining. Moreover, the effects of CPA addition were also demonstrated at the proteome level using two-dimensional electrophoresis. Our results demonstrated that CPA addition significantly reduced sperm motility (%), curvilinear velocity, viability (%), and non-capacitated spermatozoa, whereas straightness and acrosome-reacted spermatozoa increased significantly (p < 0.05). Ten proteins were differentially expressed (two decreased and eight increased) (>3 fold, p < 0.05) after CPA, whereas NADH dehydrogenase flavoprotein 2, f-actin-capping protein subunit beta, superoxide dismutase 2, and outer dense fiber protein 2 were associated with several important signaling pathways (p < 0.05). The present study provides a mechanistic basis for specific cryostresses and potential markers of CPA-induced stress. Therefore, these might provide information about the development of safe biomaterials for cryopreservation and basic ground for sperm cryopreservation.     

Generation and characterization of an estrogen receptor alpha‐iCre knock‐in mouse

Two estrogen receptors, ESR1 and ESR2, are responsible for the classical actions of estrogens in mammalian species. They display different spatiotemporal expression patterns and nonoverlapping functions in various tissues and physiological conditions. In this study, a novel knock‐in mouse line that expresses codon‐improved Cre recombinase (iCre) under regulation of the natural Esr1 promoter (Esr1–iCre) was developed. Functional characterization of iCre expression by crossing them with reporter lines (ROSA26‐lacZ or Ai9‐RFP) showed that iCre is faithfully expressed in Esr1‐lineage cells. This novel transgenic mouse line will be a useful animal model for lineage‐tracing Esr1‐expressing cells, selective gene ablation in the Esr1‐lineage cells and for generating global Esr1 knockout mice.     

Activation of PKCbeta(II) and PKCtheta is essential for LDL-induced cell proliferation of human aortic smooth muscle cells via Gi-mediated Erk1/2 activation and Egr-1 upregulation

Native LDL may be a mitogenic stimulus of VSMC proliferation in lesions where endothelial disruption occurs. Recent studies have demonstrated that the mitogenic effects of LDL are accompanied by Erk1/2 activation via an unknown G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). In this article, we report that LDL translocated PKCβ_II and PKCθ from cytosol to plasma membrane, and inhibition of PKCβ_II and PKCθ decreased LDL effects via the deactivation of Erk1/2. Moreover, pertussis toxin, but not cholera toxin or heparin, inhibited LDL-induced translocation of PKCβ_II and PKCθ, suggesting that Gi protein plays a role in LDL effects. Of LPA, S1P, and LDL, whose signaling is conveyed via Gi/o proteins, only LDL induced translocation of PKCβ_II and PKCθ. Inhibition of PKCβ_II or PKCθ, as well as of Erk1/2 and GPCR, decreases LDL-induced upregulation of Egr-1, which is critical for cell proliferation. This is the first report, to our knowledge, that the participation of PKCθ in VSMC proliferation is unique.